Quick Sticks: Laxcats Lose a Tough One in OT

Feb. 23, Phoenix , AZ: The University of Arizona continued our early season road tripping as we headed north to Grand Canyon University. A true seesaw battle between the Laxcats and Lopes featured two come from behind runs with Grand Canyon scoring the last goal of the game in what Lacrosse calls, Sudden Victory, 9-8.

GCU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 4 minutes of the battle. We cut that lead in half when Fr. middy, Theodore Wolter (2g/2a) took things in his own hands scoring an unassisted goal at 7:38. The opening stanza ended with the Lopes ahead 2-1.

In the second, Sr. attackman, Lucas Strode knotted the contest at 2 with an unassisted goal as he came around from the back of the 6’ X 6’ cage to put one in past A.J. Wilkerson who had a terrific game in goal.

Five minutes later with a bit of confidence building up, Fr. middy, Ben Brehne (3g/1/) scored the first of his 3 tallies providing us the 1st of the games come from behind efforts and a 3-2 lead. However, on a man advantage play with 17 seconds remaining in the half, GCU scored tying the game for the 2nd time.

At 12:30 of the 3rd quarter GCU put one up on the scoreboard as they regained the lead for the second time. The Laxcats, up for the challenged tied the score once again when Brehne put one in the net at 11:54. Ben’s goal was followed by Jr. attackman, Willie Stanaback (1g) tally 32 seconds later on an assist from Wolter.

It took The Lopes 30 seconds to tie the game once more at 5. However, when GCU was found guilty of a 1 minute penalty for slashing, So. attackman Zach Johnson (1g/1a/10GB) fed Brehne cutting across the middle and a 6-5 Arizona advantage.

We then took our first 2 goal lead with 5:50 remaining in the 3 quarter when Wolter fed Johnson and
a 7-5 advantage going into the fourth.

The Lopes had no idea about the game being over and scored at 2 minutes and 12 seconds (12:48) into the fourth creating a one goal deficit at 7-6. They then tied the score at 7. It was the 5th tie score of the game as we were tied at 2, 3, 4, 5 and now 7.

Arizona at the PAC 12 Shootout

With 2:14 to go in the quarter, the Laxcats reacted by regaining the lead at 8-7 with Wolter’s second goal on a feed from Brehne.

Not to be outdone, Grand Canyon scored 22 seconds later tying the game once again and ending regulation with the score knotted at 8.

Lacrosse game rules require 4 minute periods of overtime until someone scores in what we politically call Sudden Victory which celebrating the winning team.

The overtime action was intense with one team, than the other possessing the ball as it went up and down the field. Both defenses continued not to give in for about 3 minutes. Grand Canyon University scored the winner at 1:04 of the first O.T. period sending the Lopes and their fans into frenzy and a 9-8 victory.

Fr. goalie, Pierce Phipl had 19 saves on the evening and a performance that deserved a better outcome. Our close defense of Brenden Felix, James Reaney, Zach Ashourian and Lucas Henkel combined with LSM Sammy Bradley and defensive middy Nick Gizzi had a terrific game. Not to be overlooked was the play of Austin Chapman and Nathan Vance that held the Lopes high scoring attackman, Carson Barton to a goal and an assist. Barton had been averaging 6 goals and 3 assists per game.

Next Up: A smaller traveling squad will now continue our road tripping with a visit to Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Vancouver, B.C. on Friday at 1:00 PM. After a day in Vancouver we’ll head back across the border to Seattle. Sunday morning we’ll play the University of Washington Huskies at 10:00 AM in Seattle and head back to Tucson Sunday afternoon. It will be The Laxcats first game outside of the Good Ole US of A. Show me your passport!!

Editor’s Note: In the coming weeks, we will be featuring a bunch of the Laxcats’ gear for the 2013 season, here’s a little sneak peek of their Arizona-themed shooting shirts from Lacrosse Wear.